Arkansas Tech University (ATU) students could soon have access to a new academic program, a new option within an existing program and a new delivery method for another program following action by the ATU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting on Thursday.

Trustees approved a program proposal for a new Master of Science degree in applied sociology. The degree will be offered by the Department of Behavioral Sciences and the College of Arts and Humanities.

“Individuals graduating with this degree will have several career paths from which to choose, including human resource managers, probation officers, case managers and public policy analysts,” wrote Dr. John W. Watson, ATU vice president for academic affairs, in a memorandum presented to trustees.

The board also gave its approval for a new applied leadership option within the Bachelor of Professional Studies degree. Existing options within the degree program include agriculture business, early childhood education, information technology, industrial and organizational psychology, criminal justice and public relations.

“The new option (in applied leadership) is designed to enhance skills needed to be employed in leadership positions in the for-profit, non-profit and governmental sectors of the marketplace,” Watson wrote.

In addition, trustees approved a plan by the ATU Graduate College and Center for Leadership and Learning to offer the Educational Specialist degree in educational leadership entirely online.

“This will allow these students, comprised primarily of teachers, principals and superintendents, more flexibility in course scheduling,” wrote Watson.

All of the above actions will be forwarded to the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board for final approval.

In other business on Thursday, the board approved:

• The financial report for the university for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.

• A transfer of $42,526.95 from the educational and general operating budget to fund the final portion of renovations to the theatre performance space in the Techionery.

• Renewal of health and dental coverage for ATU employees for the 2014 calendar year through Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, with a rate increase of 8.5 percent for health insurance and a rate increase of 12 percent for dental coverage.

• Deletion of the Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies and the Master of Arts degree in Spanish at ATU due to the fact they do not meet the viability standards instituted by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in 2009.